In Today's Phoenix: Nads!

That's right. My cover story this week is on the Nads, the Rhode Island School of Design's club hockey team, and their mascot Scrotie - a giant, randy, foam-and-nylon penis.

This one, I must say, practically wrote itself: tales of Scrotie's tortured relationship with Clammy, the giant, vulva-like mascot of the rival Clams hockey team; stories of former Providence Mayor Buddy Cianci coaching for a night - brandy snifter in one hand and cigar in the other; I won't give away anymore.

And the story doesn't even mention some of RISD's other teams - the Balls, the Jugs, the Seamen (seriously). No, you'll have to wait for next week's cover story. I'm kidding. I think.

I've also got expanded takes on a couple of items featured in this space in recent days: turning Senator Sheldon Whitehouse's "Buffett Rule" legislation into law; and the low-down on that curious billboard that popped up on Benefit Street this week - a replica of the 1990 Shepard Fairey-defaced "Re-Elect Cianci" billboard, featuring the emerging artist's then-unknown Andre the Giant meme

A great piece, too, from our freelancer Brian Jones on a Valentine's Day toast to a man wronged and all the usual arts and entertainment stuff. Take a read.